Æ23 - Valerian and Gallienus ΙΟΥΛΙΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ

Iuliopolis occupied an awkward position in Bithynia — a small city of modest means that nonetheless maintained the right to strike provincial bronze under the joint reign of Valerian I and his son Gallienus. The co-emperorship itself was a product of necessity: when Valerian elevated Gallienus in 253, the empire was simultaneously absorbing pressure from Shapur I in the east and the Rhine frontier in the west, and a divided command was the only practical answer.

Valerian's capture by Shapur at Edessa in 260 ended the joint reign abruptly, terminating provincial emissions struck in both names.